Manufacture of glass plates or sheets.



H. K. HITCHOOGK.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES 0R SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 23. 1905.

1,128,448,, Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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\ WITNESSES: F

H. K. HITGHGOCK.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES on SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

FIGZ- INVENTOR H. K. HITGHGOOK.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES OR SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR ESSES:

H K. HITGHGOGK.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES 0E SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23.1905.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I INVENTOR Md 6% M my W1, A m 4 w u n E MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES 0RSHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905. 1,128,448. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

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H. K. HITGHGOOK.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLATES 0E SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1905- 1,,1 28,448, Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

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HALBERT K. HITGHCOCK, 0F TARENTUM. PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS PLA'fES OR SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23, 1905. Serial No. 275,462. i

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HALBERT K. HITCH- COCK, residing at Tarentum, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the UnitedStates, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvementsin the Manufacture of Glass Plates or Sheets, of which improvements thefollowing is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements inapparatus for the practice of the method described in application SerialNumber 108,611, filed by me May VIVI and VII 23, 1902, and the inventionconsists generally stated in providing means whereby glass in' a plasticcondition is fed to a formative point and \whereby a formative tensionis applied to the glass when it reaches such point.

The invention also consists in providing suitable means whereby thetemperature of the glass can 'be regulated while flowing to and at theformative point and also while being subjected to the formative tension.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification Figurel is a side elevation of my improved apparatus for the manufacture ofglass sheets; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on a large scale of a'portion of my apparatus the plane of section being indicated by theline 11-11 Fig. ,3; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on a. planeindicated by the line IIIIII Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a side elevation of aportion of the apparatus into which the sheets are drawn and dividedinto sections; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on a plane indicated bythe line V Fig. 3; Figs. 6.and Tare sectional detail views on planesindicated by the lines VII Fig. 4.; Figs. 8 and 9 are views inelevation'andsection of portions of the gripping and pulling mechanism;Fig. 10 is a. detailwiew illustrating is a sectional plan View ofthepulling head the operating parts being, omitted.

In the practice of my invention it is preferred that theglass'from whichthe sheets are to be formedshould be charged into a receptacle providedwith suitable means for maintaining the glass at the desiredtemperature. A desirable construction consists of a chamber orreceptacle 1 formed of heat resisting material held in position by ametal shell. For purposes of adjustment herc= inafter described it ispreferred to provide for a vertical adjustment and leveling of thereceptacle. A convenient means for this purpose consists of fluidpressure cylinders 2 provided with rams 3 .having sockets in theirupperends for the reception of legs 4 secured at their upper ends to thebasin 0rreceptacle. As shown in Fig. 11 the legs are somewhat smallerthan the sockets in the pistons and have their lower ends rounded sothat the legs may have a slight rocking movement within the sockets.While any suitable means maybe employed for heating the receptacle it ispreferred to employ electrical means such as shown, a's'permitting abetter control of the temperature. A desir able construction of suchheaters consists of a series of shells 5, extending through themasonry'forming the receptacle and preferably formed of siloxicon orcarborundum. These shells or casings inclose cores 6 formed ofpulverized or granulated carbon or othersuitable material and connectedby suitable the glass is subsequentlyto be fed it is pre-' ferred toemploy an independent inlet for that purpose and When the apparatus ISin operation fluid pressure is maintained on the surface of the glass inthe chamber 1 preferably by means of a pipe 8 passing through the cap orcover of the inlet 7. For removing glass which cannot be utilized in theforming of the sheets an outlet 10 is pro vided in line with the bottomof the receptacle'and adapted to be temporarily closed by anysuitable-means known in the art. When the glass is subjected to pressureit is forced up through a feed tube 11 project ing down nearly to thebottom of the receptacle so that all or nearly all the glass can beforced through the tube. The glass is directed by the tube to a slot 12which is formed in a casting secured to the jaw of thereceptacle in linewith the feed tube.

I these combustion chambers should be connectedwith the chamberimmediately around the slot or opening 12 by three or more branches 14,the outside branches be- .ing in line with the side chambers in thecasting and the intermediate branches in line with the 'axis oftheoblong opening. Gas and air are admitted into the combus tion chambersthrough suitable ports con- '-trolled by valves 15 and 16,-theportsbeing preferably arranged in line with the branches 14:. In the topwalls of the chambers are formed, openings 17 for the escape of air orgases or products of combustion. It will be readily understood that by aing kilns areformed by metal plates and the-interior of the head as wellas the kiln adjacent to the head is linedwithfsome suitablenon-conducting material as asbestos. Asshown in Fig. 3 one of theconnecting or embracing arches 21 is provided with an extension wherebythe head may be connected to and supported by suitable beams 22extending back and secured toside proper adjustment of the valves 15 and16.

the temperature of the walls of the slot in contact with the glass ashereinafter described maybe very accurately regulated.

At the beginning of the operation of forming sheets, the glass forced upthrough this slot 12 is engaged by a suitablebait whereby it may bedrawn up until the glass its'elf can be caught by the pulling clampsposts or pillars 23 of the kiln, thereby firmly tying the drawing-headto the kiln. In order to apply a suitable tension to the glass a seriesof clamps are secured to an endless chain 24 moving vertically and atthe upper portion of the head horizontally so so' I as topull the glassup and after cutting to shift the severed section into suitableconveying means extending from the front to the rear end of the kiln. Asshownfin Figs. .3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 .the chains consist of two series oflinks arranged respectively on opposite ends'of blocks 25 in someinstances supported by connecting rivets 26 and in other instances bystems of the clamps as hereinafter described, These blocks 25 fill theslots, or nearly so, between the sections 18, 19 and 20 of the sidewalls and the links are made sufficiently wide to overlap the edges ofthese slots and thereby prevent the flow of air through the slots. Thechains pass around. a sprocket wheel 27 mounted upon a power shaft 28connected by suitable gearing as shown in Fig. 4 to a motor 29. Theclamps consist as shown in Figs. 7 8 and 9 of a base or body portion 30of a length somewhat greater than the width of the sheet to be formedand preferably formed of I-beams. These body-portions are provided attheir ends with stems 31 passing through the links and blocks 25 of thechains and also with seats or bearings 33 preferably formed of somerefractory but as Hereinafter described. After the clamps have thusengaged the sheet the feed and movement of the glass is continuous untilthe glasscontained in the receptacle-isexhausted or may be made withoutintermission if suitable means be provided whereby the. glass canv befed..- into the receptacle without destroying the feeding pressuremaintained therein. The 'glass'is ,pulled' up into a header end chamberat oneend of an annealing kiln or chamber. This head or chamber isformed by side castings con sisting of three sections 18, 19 and 20spaced a distance apart as shown in Fig. 7 to permit of the passing of a"portion of the pulling chains therethrough. These sections are heldtogether and in proper relation to each other by arched pieces '21 asshown in Figs 3, 4 and 7. i The front part and the portion ofthe rearwall below the annealyielding material as asbestos, for the glass.

The movable member of the clamp is formed by a jaw 32 having arefractory yielding seat and adjustably connected by a ball and socketjoint to an arm 34,-which is pivotally mounted upon the body of theclamp. This arm34 is provided with fingers 35 and 36 with'which a head37 on a rod 38 will engage alternately and open andclose the movable jaw32. The stem or the rod 38 passes through the stem. 31 of the clamp andis normally pulled outward to close the jaw 32 by a spring 39 bearingatits ends .E

against the stem 31 and ahead 40 on the rod 38. It is preferred tosurround this spring with a shell or casing 41 as shown in Figs.

8 and 9. When the rod 38.i"s fr'ee'to move under the action of the.spring, the jaw 32 will be yieldingly held against a plate restingagainst the hearing or seat on the bodies of the' clamps. In ordertoopen the jaws 32, cam plates 42 and 43 are proyided at the lower endof- -the drawheid and at the. end

madam adjacent' to the'kiln, 'against' 'which the blocks onthe rods 38will bear and be forced inward, so that the head 37 will contact withthe fingers 36 on-the arm 34 and thereby force the movable jaw to openposition as shown in Fig. 7.= To-permit in one case the jaw passingaround the edge of the sheet beingdrawn and in the other case to permittheescapeof the sheet from between the clampsyit will be understood thatthe opening-movement in the latter case need not be as' great as in theformer. As a clamp which is about to be applied to a sheet has passedaround the curve at thelower end of the head the bearing piece 40 willmove off of the cam plates 42-and theref by permit the-spring '39 toclose the clamp agalnst the glass of the side opposite that hearing onthe seat on the .body of the clamp. v

After a clamp has been applied the sheet will be drawn ,up by the actionthereof from the formative point adjacent to the slot 12 and during aportion of this movement two clamps will be operative to effect thepulling. In order to divide the sheet into sections a suitable severingmechanism is employed. A suitable construction for this purpose consistsof two wings 44 molinted on shafts 45 and 46, one of the latter beingprovided with a sprocket wheel 47 intermeshing with one. of the chainsas shown in Fig. 6, one of the wall sections being cut away for thispurpose as shown in Fig. 5. Shafts 45 and 46 have their ends mounted inadjustable bearing blocks 48 and 49 mounted in suitable slides at thesides of the pulling head. These bearing blocks 48 and 49 are providedon their upper and lower sides with lugs through which pass threadedrods 50 and 51 and the blocks are adjusted so as to bring the edges ofthe wings within the pulling head in proper relation to each other andthe sheet of glass being drawn by means of nuts on the rods 50 and'51.In order to prevent injury to the severing 'wings the shaft '46 is heldin one' direction by means of springs 52 so that in case of a too greatthickness of glass the wings carried by the shaft and the shaft itselfcan move outwardly against the tension of the springs. The shafts 45 and46 and portions of the Wings 44 are made hollow for the circulationtherethrough of a medium for controlling the temperature of the edges ofthe wings. Motion is transmitted from the shaft 45 to the shaft 46 bymeans of gearwheels 53 as shown in Fig. 4 so arranged and mounted as topermit of the adjustment of the shafts toward and from each otherwithout changing and alteration of the relative space. The number ofgear wheels em-v ployed .is such that the blades or wings are rotated inopposite} directions and gearwheels are "so "proportioned andconstructed that the edges of the wings will come into the same planeadjacent to the surface of the glass'at the same time. The cracking ofthe glass by these wings can be effected if the glass is quite hot byhaving the edges of thewings cold, or if the glass is cold at the timeof severance by heating the wings. Shields 54 are arranged on oppositesides of the path of upward movement of the clamps, .=which *willdirectpieces of broken glass-down in'to a pocket '55 in the pulling head ontothe lower-floor of the leer which is inclined as shown so that thebroken pieces will'slidieiout of-the way. It is preferred-that theseplates should be made yielding-.orresilient so that their edges maycomeinto close proximity of a sheet being drawn and will yet permit theclamps passing between them.

In order to move the sheets through the kiln; an endless-chain isprovided carrying a series of posts 56 braced and held in properposition by braces 57. After, a section of glass hasbeen severed, it isearned along horizontally by the clamps and placed in position adjacentto one of the supportingposts 56, which-are so timed as to be in properposition to receive and support the glass as the clamps, carry it along.As the glass sections reach-position where they are supported by theposts 56, the clamps are'opened by the cam plates 43. and the sheetallowed to move along with the endless chain'through the kiln.

In order to insure the clamps in proper position at all timesguideplates 60 are secured to the stems 31 of the clamps;saidcguide-plates moving along between guide-ways 61 as shownin Figs. 8and 10. As the clamps move up with a sheet of glass the edge a of theplates will bear against the vertical wall of the head 61 and therebyprevent a turning of the clamps.

As the clamps reach a position where they pass from a vertical to ahorizontal movement the edge a of the plate will pass from the guides 61and a curved portion 1) of the plate will bear against the curvedportlon of the rail 61 and thereby prevent a turning of the guide plateto the left in Fig. 10. At the same time a curved portion 0 of the platewill bear against the rail 62 and prevent an opposite turning of theclamp. As the clamp moves along to a horizontal path or horizontalportion of the rails 61 and 62 the portion (1 of the plate will bearagainst holding of the a the horizontal portionof the rail 62 and I thecurved portion of the head or to move laterally ed that in addition tothe cracking action produced by the wings there.

will be aslight lateral movement-of the sheet to assist in the severanceof" the section.

' It will be understood that the function of the slot is principallydirecting the glass to and distributing it at the formative point.

The slot also serves as an anchorage or abut-- ment to which the outerportions of the glass passing through the slot will adhere, so that suchsur ace poi-tions will be subjected to a stretching action, as describedin Letters Patent Nos. 805,064 and805,065, datedNovember 21,, 1905. Theadherence of the glass will of the slot and the glass passing throughthe a same. Both of thesetemperatures can'be ac.-

into alinement with the plane of the upward -movement of the clampsofthe pulling mechanism. And further by raising and lowerlngthe-receptacle or basin, the glass cooling 7 zone between the slot andthe lower end of the heated chamber or pulling head can be increased ordiminished thereby ,regulating the temperature of the glass between thedepend upon the temperature of the walls mana e:

slot and pulling head. It will be understood that any suitable means canbe employed for heating the kiln and pulling head and regulating thetemperature in t 1e difi'erent'portions of the latter.

orifice, said orifice having a peripherally continuous wall extendingfrom within the glass to a plane above the glass level, the bottomopening of said orifice being of less area than its area at the glasslevel, and means for heating the-orifice wall. 0

2. A glass drawing orifice having a peripherally continuous wallextending from Within'theglass to a plane above the glass level, saidorifice being of gradually 1ncreasing area in successive planes from itsbottom opening upwardly to the level of the glass, and means for heatingthe orificewall.

In testimony whereof, I havj hereunto set my hand.

HALBERT K. HITCHCOQK. Witnesses:

.ALICEA. TRILL, BAYARD H. CHRISTY.

